Recreation director pitches his ideas to Town Board


 

PINE PLAINS — Recreation Director Jim Jackson appeared before the Town Board March 20 to discuss progress on a number of projects.


Softball field


There are big plans in store for the recreation fields in town, namely a new girls’ and women’s softball field. Just ask Jackson, who is spearheading the efforts.

"We plan on opening by early May so we can play our games there," he said. "It just makes it a little bit more of a level playing field for the boys and the girls to have this field just for softball."

When the project is complete it will include a fence, which the state mandates must be at least 6 feet high, and back stop as well as dugouts, lights and a scoreboard. Some of that will be done within a year, Jackson said. The cost for the project is estimated to be roughly $50,000, which will come from the Recreation Department’s account. Donations are now being sought from the community.

"We have started asking people for money, and we’ve contacted some major corporations to help out," Jackson said.

The addition of the softball field will benefit many who live in Pine Plains.

"I noticed it last year with the new coach at the high school level that a lot of people are enthused with the sport. It did very well, so we want to take that and run with it," Jackson said. "It starts with young kids and goes all the way up over the years. Athletics have done pretty well in the town of Pine Plains over at the high school, so this is our concentration."

When Jackson appeared before the Town Board he thanked Matt Blackburn, Bobby Harpp and Doug Weaver for their help while working on the project.


Earth Day


Meanwhile, Jackson is keeping busy on another project. This time its focus is on Earth Day.

"I have a totally different plan for Earth Day, April 19," he said, adding that it’s something in which people of all ages will be able to participate.

At 10 a.m. elementary, middle and high school students, along with adults, are being asked to meet on the grounds of Stissing Mountain High School, from where they will start picking up trash and recyclables throughout the town.

"I just think the area is a beautiful area and we want to keep it that way," he said. "And I think if we start with the younger kids picking up trash and recycling it would be a lot better."

From there the Earth Day volunteers will join together at the Lions Club Pavilion by the recreation fields to listen to a presentation from representatives from the Cornell Cooperative Extension. That talk will focus on recycling and ways to help the environment. Jackson said he expects that presentation to begin at noon. It’s free and open to the public.

For more on the Recreation Department, or any of its activities or events, call Jackson at 518-965-2620.

To make a contribution to the softball field project, send a check to the Pine Plains Recreation Department at PO Box 955, Pine Plains, NY 12567.

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